ANNUAL DISPLAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 47, 5 December 1939, Page 6

ANNUAL DISPLAY

TECHNICAL SCHOOL PUPILS. COMPREHENSIVE EXHIBITION. PARENTS INSPECT AVORK. With several innovations this year, the annual display of work h.v pupils of the Ashburton Technical High School to-day was the most comprehensive ever held, and visitors to the-exhibition this afternoon were justly enthusiastic in their praise of the high standard of the work. Some sections are outstanding and show well the important part the school plays in giving students a thorough and first-hand knowledge of technical work.

The activities of the students during the year were shown in a most attrae tive and interesting manner to-day and hours of close inspection would be necessary to obtain a full knowledge of the various phases of work included in the engineering, science, woodwork, weaving, home-management, and typewriting departments. A new feature of this year’s display/is in the typewriting section,, where a complete office has been laid out, showing the full routine operations from the time an order is received over the telephone or by letter, until the goods are dispatched. There are two telephones in the room, one of which is used as the exchange, and no trouble has been spared to make the office complete in every detail. Even faked, but very realistic cardboard coins have been made by the students. History Section. Innovated last year, the history section lias made big steps in improvement. Norman castles in cardboard, iSaxon villages in plasticine, models of Captain Cook’s ships, are a few of the attractive features of this department. The projects are comprehensive, one of the most interesting being that of a collected history of the Ashburton County. Maori life, and surveys' of the North and South Islands have also been covered by the students, whose efforts speak well for their originality and enterprise. Special mention is due to the dressmaking -display, which incorporates all classes of work done in this department during the year. The standard Seems even higher than that set last year, especially in the tapestry section. Frocks, dressing gowns, children’s dresses, top coats, costumes, samples of millinery and cushions are a few of the exhibits in one part of the display, while lampshades, seagrass chairtops and specimens of basketwork help to make up the wide range of exhibits. Excellent specimens of pewter work in the form of bread-boards, powder-bowls and cocktail trays attract one’s attention.

In tli© cookery room one can see how meals and school lunches are prepared and shows Christmas baking at its best. The diet planning section of the advanced pupils is well woihhy of study. Arts and Crafts. Perhaps the most interesting exhibit in the home-management group is that showing the complete furnishing of a five-roomed house. Each room was taken separately and the various fittings arranged in such a way that the best effect was obtained. Special attention was given to the application of design and colour schemes. Each room is complete to the smallest details, for in the dining room the table is even laid for a meal. This work was done by the senior domestic students, who themselves worked out the scheme for the interior decorations. There is no doubt that most interest was shown this afternoon in the section of arts and crafts, and the display there certainly merited commendation. The leather-work is firstclass, most of the designs being based on the “Book of Kells,” the famous Irish manuscript written and illuminated by monks in the middle of the sixth century. The work includes stool covers ,handbags, purses, serviette rings and belts and is all demonstrative of the closest attention to detail fay the students. A feature of the arts and crafts display was the demonstration of spinning and weaving. Since the pedal loom was acquired by the school this term, some really outstanding work has been done, the best shown to-day being a home-spun cushion. The wool was spun in class and the cushion was woven in the foot powei’-loom. There is a wide range of woven articles, including cushions in traditional patterns, bathmats, skirts and even belts. The science, wool-classing, engineering and woodwork rooms provide plenty of interesting exhibits, the whole display demonstrating the industry, enterprise, and skill of both day and evening students.

Skipping drill by the girls, and a drill display by the hoys added to the enjoyment of the afternoon’s entertainment. Some of the girls also took part in a mannequin parade, while later in tire afternoon a rhythmic touch typing class was seen at work.